LSU coach Les Miles is always looking for significant improvement out of his team on a week to week basis.
This week – with LSU being the unanimous No. 1 selection in The Associated Press poll and coming off one of the biggest victories in the program’s history – Miles said there are some kinks to be worked out before the Tigers reach their full potential.
“I went back and looked at that defensive film – every snap,” Miles said. “I can tell you that our defense can play better than they did in that game.”
The Tigers’ defense is still the best in the nation in total defense, allowing 198 yards per game.
But the multiple four and five wide receiver sets the Florida Gators used proved more successful than any other offensive game plan used against LSU this season.
LSU allowed a season-high 314 yards in the 28-24 win against No. 13 Florida. The Tigers’ previous season high in yards allowed was the 261 they surrendered to South Carolina on Sept. 22.
Florida sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow accounted for 225 of those yards and all three of the Gators’ touchdowns.
Senior defensive end Kirston Pittman said at halftime against Florida, defensive coordinator Bo Pelini’s message was simple – settle down.
“We told each other that we worked too hard for anyone to come in our house and disrespect us,” Pittman said. “We had to rally together as a team and overcome some adversity.”
Junior linebacker Darry Beckwith said he would not be surprised if the Tigers battle the Gators again in the Southeastern Conference title game Dec. 1.”We’re probably going to see them in the future,” Beckwith said. “They’re a talented team, and they’re going to beat a lot of people this year.”
MILES ‘CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC’ ABOUT DOUCET
Miles said he was “cautiously optimistic” about injured wide receiver Early Doucet would be able to take some snaps in practice this week.
“I know that this week is an important week for [Doucet] in practice,” he said. “We’ll have to see how it goes, but I’d like to think that he’d be dressed out and have an opportunity this Saturday.”
Doucet has missed the past four games with a groin injury. Despite only playing in two games this season, the St. Martinville native is the Tigers’ second-leading receiver with 15 receptions.
Miles said Doucet’s off the field intangibles are what the Tigers have missed the most while he has been injured.
“We enjoy his leadership and who he is as a person,” Miles said. “He makes a number of plays, but how he works and the leadership he gives that position is … what we’ve missed most.”
NO SPECIAL CONCERNS
LSU’s margin of victory against Florida was minimized by junior kicker Colt David’s two missed field goals.
David missed a 43-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the first half. David’s other miscue was a missed 37-yard opportunity with 12:52 left in the game.
Both kicks would have decreased the Tigers’ deficit to seven points.
Miles said he was pleased with the special teams’ overall play against Florida and has no immediate concerns regarding David’s play.
“He’s been so regular and so steady,” he said. “We have great confidence in him. He’ll get this thing ironed out. If I had the need late in the game to go for a field goal, I certainly would have.”
The Tigers were 5-for-5 on fourth down conversions against the Gators, and four of those attempts came inside Florida’s 25-yard line.
With his two misses Saturday, David has made 8 of 12 field goals this season and has connected on all 29 of his point after attempts.
OCT. 20: NIGHT OF THE TIGERS
The SEC announced Monday that ESPN will televise the Oct. 20 matchup between LSU and Auburn at 8 p.m.
That matchup will be LSU’s seventh nationally televised game this season and its fourth to be shown on the ESPN family of networks. The only Tigers game not televised nationally was their 44-0 win Sept. 15 against Middle Tennessee.
The game against Auburn will also be the second time this season LSU will kick off in Tiger Stadium later than 7 p.m. The 2007 home opener against Virginia Tech also began at 8 p.m.
—–Contact Tyler Batiste [email protected]